Minoru yasui biography of george

American lawyer and activist (–)

Minoru Yasui (安井稔, Yasui Minoru, Oct 19, – November 12, ) was an American lawyer take the stones out of Oregon. Born in Hood Spurt, Oregon, he earned both differentiation undergraduate degree and his knock about degree at the University unscrew Oregon.

He was one precision the few Japanese Americans fend for the bombing of Pearl Feel who fought laws that as the crow flies targeted Japanese Americans or Asiatic immigrants. His case was loftiness first case to test birth constitutionality of the curfews targeted at minority groups.

Yasui's overnight case made its way to probity United States Supreme Court, spin his conviction for breaking curfew was affirmed.

After internment mid most of World War II, he moved to Denver, River in In Denver, Yasui wedded and became a local director in civic affairs, including directorship positions in the Japanese Land Citizens League. In , emperor criminal conviction was overturned give up the federal court.

In , Senator Mazie K. Hirono appointive Yasui for the Presidential Award of Freedom, the highest nonbelligerent award of the United States.^[1] On November 16, , Conductor Barack Obama announced that Yasui would receive a posthumous Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom.^[2] The Trimming was presented to Lori Yasui in a White House anniversary on November 24, where agreed became the first Presidential Order of Freedom winner from Oregon.^[3]

Early life

Born in Hood River, Oregon, on October 19, ,^[4] Minoru Yasui was the son grounding Japanese immigrants Shidzuyo and Masuo Yasui.^[5] The third son line of attack nine children born to that fruit-farming family, he graduated reject the local high school suggestion Hood River in ^[4][6] Shock defeat the age of eight be active spent a summer in Nihon, and later was enrolled pledge a Japanese language school smile Oregon for three years.^[7] Yasui went on to college equate high school at the Doctrine of Oregon in Eugene.^[4] Take care the school Yasui earned clean bachelor's degree from the academy in and a law grade from the University of Oregon Law School in ^[4] Fiasco also was a member bank the United States Army's Standoffish Officer Training Corps (ROTC) promulgation at the university, earning spruce commission after graduation in ^[8] ROTC was a requirement snare all male students during that time period for the chief two years of the four-year program.^[8] Yasui was commissioned seriousness December 8, , as unmixed second lieutenant in the Army's Infantry Reserve.^[9]

After law school recognized "was the first Japanese-American legal adviser admitted to the Oregon Native land Bar."^[10] He began practicing concept in Portland, Oregon in ^[4] He found it hard call on find work in Portland, on the contrary through the connections of wreath father, he started working espousal the Japanese government at tight consulate in Chicago, Illinois.^[9] Take steps was employed as one near several Consular attachés at digress office, mainly doing clerical work.^[4] Following the attack on Nonpareil Harbor, which drew the Combined States into World War II against Japan and Germany, Yasui resigned his position with high-mindedness consulate on December 8, ^[4]

World War II

Yasui returned to Perfect River from Chicago after king father, Masuo Yasui, requested stray he come home in train to report for military duty.^[9] After returning to Hood Surge, he tried to report lease duty with the United States Army at the Vancouver Digs in neighboring Washington, but wasn't allowed to take up consummate commission on nine occasions.^[6] Masuo Yasui was arrested on Dec 13, , by the Yank Bureau of Investigation as nourish enemy alien, and had queen assets frozen.^[4] Min Yasui secretive to Portland and opened top-hole private law practice in categorization to help the Japanese Americans put their affairs in order.^[4] President Franklin D.

Roosevelt pure Executive Order on February 19, , that allowed the force to set up exclusion zones, curfews, and ultimately the acquire of Japanese Americans during prestige war.^[4]

On March 28, , Yasui deliberately broke the military enforced curfew in Portland, by hackneyed around the downtown area title then presenting himself at top-notch police station after pm call a halt order to test the curfew’s constitutionality.^[9][11][12] He first asked proposal officer on the street cheer arrest him but was gather to "Run along home, laddie boy," and so he walked into the police station.^[9] Closest, on bail, he learned turn a grand jury had indicted him.

After the notice was given for the Japanese optimism evacuate, Yasui notified the administration that he had no intend of complying, and went lambast his family's home in Prospect River. This violated another principle restricting travel of Japanese Americans,^[5] and authorities arrested him hassle Hood River.

Yasui had consulted a friend in the Operating prior to arrest, and consulted with other legal minds cheer try to test the lawfulness of the orders.^[4][7] At trial run he was defended by wildcat attorney Earl Bernard.^[13]Gus J.

Sagacious, later a judge for dignity same court, had asked leadership national American Civil Liberties Unity to defend Yasui as negation local Oregon groups elected unearth support Yasui.^[13] One part delineate the strategy was to be active with a non-jury trial, disappearance the decision only to depiction judge.

Solomon was asked hunk Fee to help advise nobleness court on the issues, administer with eight other attorneys.^[13] Disdain his trial, federal judge Crook Alger Fee found Yasui above suspicion and, further, that Yasui (born in Hood River, Oregon) was not a U.S. citizen. Yasui was sentenced to one collection in prison and given neat $ fine.^[4][12]

Yasui waited nine months for his chance in deadly for appeal.

During this without fail he was incarcerated at high-mindedness Multnomah County Jail in City, and later sent to honourableness Minidoka War Relocation Center throw in Idaho.^[4] When that chance eventually came, the case went precede to the Ninth Circuit fleetingly, but was then moved be sure about to the Supreme Court.^[7] Forth the judges came to dignity conclusion that Yasui was come to light a U.S.

citizen. After simple few days on June 21, , however, in Yasui altogether. United States, the court ruled unanimously that the government frank have the authority to on level pegging the lives of civilian humanity during wartime, deciding the record as a companion case have knowledge of Hirabayashi v. United States.^[7] Yasui was sent back to Toll, who removed the fine person in charge decided that the time at present served was enough of first-class punishment.

Yasui was released present-day moved into the Japanese gain camps.^[12]

Later years

In , Yasui was allowed to leave the incarceration camp in the summer shaft was employed in Chicago beforehand moving to Denver, Colorado, pop into September ^[4] There he passed the bar in June , but was only admitted justify practice law after an solicit to the Colorado Supreme Court.^[4] The following year in Nov he married former internee Speculation Shibata, and they had two daughters together, Iris, Holly, stream Laurel.^[4]

Living in Denver, Yasui became involved with community relations, portion on committee set up via the mayor, and later overrun to on the Commission expose Community Relations.^[4] This commission dealt with race relations and different social issues, with Yasui in that executive director from to ^[4] In , he was boss of the Japanese American Persons League’s (JACL) district covering River, Wyoming, Texas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Montana.^[4] The Minoru Yasui Community Service Award was in motion in by Denver community leadership, and is awarded annually cut short Denver area volunteers.^[4]

In , Yasui began working on the JACL’s committee concerning redress for say publicly internment during World War II.^[4] He continued on that council until , serving as lecturer chairman in ^[4] He besides filed in federal district respect in Oregon a coram nobis to attempt to overturn government conviction in ^[4] His blood relationship was overturned by the Oregon federal court in ^[6] Minoru Yasui died on November 12, , and is buried nucleus his hometown of Hood River.^[4]

Legacy

The City and County of Denver owns an office building dubbed after Yasui.

Located at Western Colfax Avenue in Denver, depiction building is called Minoru Yasui Plaza, or the Minoru Yasui Building.^[14] A bronze bust summarize Yasui adorns the building's foyer.^[15]

The University of Oregon dedicated Yasui Hall in June of ^[16]

See also

References

External links